Cinematographic apparatus



Nov. 2, 1948. E. M. 01.05, JR 2,453,031

0 INEMATOGRAPHI C APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2, 1946 Patented Nov. 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,453,031 CINEMA-GEOGRAPHIC APPARATUS EarlM. Olds, 512, Van Nuys, Calif., assignor to Technicolor Motion PictureCorporation, Hollywood, Calif a corporation of Maine Application August2, 1946, Serial No. 687,888

In the art of cinematography it is customary to conduct a plurality offilms along a predetermined path while holding them in precise registrywith each other by means of a belt or other carrier having teeth fittingin their sprocket holes; and sometimes it is necessary to have thecentral portion of the films uncovered by the carrier, as for examplewhen light is to be projected to the films from the carrier side of thefilms. Hereto- Iore this has been accomplished by using two narrow beltswhich support the films only along their margins and each or" which hasarow of sprocket teeth interlocking the films together along one margin,the two belts being trained over sheaves and driven by means of a motorconnected to one of the sheaves. Owing to slippage on the sheaves thetwo belts tend to shift lengthwise relatively to each other, andinasmuch as the belts are interlocked with the opposite margins of thefilms this shift tendency puts a strain on the films which may causedistortion in printing or, in severe cases, physical damage to thefilms. It has been proposed to prevent lengthwise shift of one carrierrelativeiy to the other by means of a synchronizing belt having sprocketholes meshing with the teeth of both carriers. However it has been foundthat this continuous meshing action wears the sprocket holes of thesynchronizing belt and the teeth of the carriers.

Objects of the present invention are to avoid the aforesaiddifficulties, to prevent lengthwise shift of one carrier relatively tothe other, to avoid excessive wear on the teeth of the carrier and thesprocket holes of the synchronizing belt, and to produce smooth andsteady operation.

The present invention involves apparatus for handling cinematographicfilm having a row of sprocket holes along each margin, the apparatuscomprising two carriers movable independently of each other alongparallel paths, each carrier having teeth engageable in the sprocketholes of one of the aforesaid rows, means for driving one carrier, andmeans for synchronizing the other carrier with the driven carrier, thesynchronizing means having a row of sprocket holes for each of theaforesaid rows of teeth, the holes of the row for the driven carrierbeing enlarged in the direction opposite to the direction of film traveland the holes of the other row being enlarged in the direction of filmtravel whereby the teeth may enter and leave the holes of thesynchronizing means without excessive wear at the same time the secondcarrier is kept in synchronism with the driven carrier. comprise twoendless belts movable independently 'of each other along adjacent pathsedgewise alignment and the synchronizing means corn.- prises a thirdbelt meshing with the teeth of both carrier belts. While the dimensionsor the holes- Preferably the carriers 14 Claims. (Cl. 2712.3)

2 of the synchronizin belt need not be the same in both rows of holes,preferably they are the same and the holes of one row are offsetrelatively to the holes of the other row lengthwise of the belt adistance equal to the difierence between the dimensions of the holes andthe dimensions of the teeth, so that each hole of one row trails thecorresponding hole of the other row by the aforesaid distance, and thetrailing holes receive the teeth of the driven carrier.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview of a continuous projection printer;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the right central portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration comprises two pairs of sheaves l and 2 over which aretrained two belts 3 each having a marginal row of register teeth 4adapted to fit in the sprocket holes of film. Each belt preferablycomprises a, thin ribbon of Monel metal with the register teeth mountedin the ribbon as disclosed in Patent 2,356,261. Intermediate the sheavesI and 2 the belts travel over rollers 5, 5, I, 8 and 9. Opposite therollers 6, I, 8 and 9 are rollers ll, l2, I3 and [4 which are yieldinglypressed against the rollers 6, 1, 8 and 9 by any suitable means, as forexample that disclosed in the copending application, Serial No.'626,266,filed November 2, 1945. The rollers H, I 2, l3 and 14 havecircumferential slots to receive the projecting ends of pins 4 (Fig. 3).

The printing film N is fed from a supply reel 2| over roller 22, thenceover roller 1 l to the belts 3 where it is seated firmly over theirregister teeth by being compressed between the two rollers 6 and H,thence across the optical path, thence between rollers 1 and I2, andthence over a roller 23 to a takeup reel 24. The film P to be printed isfed from a supply reel 26 over a roller 21, thence to roller 13 and thebelts 3. thence across the optical axis, thence between the rollers 9and I4, and thence over roller 28 to the take-up reel 29. As shown inFig. 5 the sheaves I are not interconnected so that one may rotaterelatively to the other, and as shown in Fig. 6 the sheaves 2 likewiseare not interconnected so that one of them may be driven independentlyof the other as by means of a-motor M.

the film P on opposite sides of the center line of the film. Ordinarilone track is printed from one film N and the other track is printed fromanother film N, the film P being reversed end to end between the twoprinting operations. By using 32 mm. film it may be split down the middle to form two 16 mm. films with a sound-track along one edge of eachfilm and a row of sprocket holes along the other edge of each film.

The two toothed belts 3 are synchronized with each other by means of abelt 56 trained over the rollers I3 and M, the belt having sprocketholes 5! (Fig. 3) to receive the projecting ends of the teeth 4. Withthe teeth of belts 8 meshing in the openings of belt 511, the twotoothed belts 3 are geared together.

According to this invention the dimension of the holes in belt Elllengthwise of its path of travel is greater than the correspondingdimension of the teeth and the holes of one row are offset relatively tothe holes of the other row length.- Wise of the belt path a distanceequal to the difference between the aforesaid dimension, so that eachhole of one row trails the corresponding hole of the other row by theaforesaid distance and the trailing holes receive the teeth of thedriven carrier. Thus in Fig. 4 the difference between the dimensions ofthe teeth and the sprocket holes is designated by D and left-handcarrier belt 3 is driven upwardl by its sheave 2 (Fig. 6). Inasmuch asthe belt 59 is driven by the left-hand belt 3 the teeth 4 of theleft-hand belt 3 engage the leading sides of the left-hand row ofsprocket holes and inasmuch as the righthand belt 3 is driven by thebelt 50 the trailing sides of the teeth of the right-hand belt engagethe trailing edges of the right-hand row of sprocket holes in belt 50.In this Way the teeth of the two belts 3 are kept in exact alignmentedgewise of the belt, and at the same time the sprocket holes are largeenough to permit the teeth to enter and leave the holes withoutexcessive wear t should be understood that the present disclosure is forthe purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes allmodifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carriers movableindependentl of each other along parallel paths, each carrier havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, means fordriving one carrier, and means for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the synchronizing means having a row of sprocketholes for each of said rows of teeth, the holes of the row for thedriven carrier being enlarged in the direction opposite to the directionof film travel and the holes of the other row being enlarged in thedirection of film travel.

2. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carriers movableindependently of each other along parallel paths, each carrier havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, means fordriving one carrier, and means for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the synchronizing means comprising a belt travelingwith the car riers, said belt having a row of sprocket holes for each ofsaid rows of teeth, the holes of the row for the driven carrier beingenlarged in the diiii rection opposite to the direction of belt traveland. the holes of the other row being enlarged in the direction of belttravel.

3. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, means for driving one belt, and means for synchronizing th otherbelt with the driven belt, the synchronizing means having a row ofsprocket holes for each of said rows of teeth, the holes of the row forthe driven carrier being enlarged in the direction opposite to thedirection of belt travel and the holes of the other row being enlargedin the direction of belt travel.

4. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movable independently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment, eachbolt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows,means for driving one belt, and means for synchronizing the other beltwith the driven belt, the synchronizing means comprising a third belttraveling with said carrier belts along a part of said paths, said thirdbelt having a row of sprocket holes for each of said rows of teeth, theholes of the row for the driven carrier being enlarged in the directionopposite to the direction of belt travel and the holes of the other rowbeing enlarged in the direction of belt travel.

5. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth on gageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, a set of sheaves for supporting belt, means for driving one beltthrough one of its sheaves, and means for synchronizing the other beltwith the driven belt, the synchronizing means having a row of sprocketholes for each of said rows of teeth, the holes of the row for thedriven carrier being enlarged in the direction opposite to the directionof film travel and the holes of the other row being enlarged in thedirection of film travel.

6. For handling cinematographic a row of sprocket holes along eachmargin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movable independently ofeach other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment, each belt havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes or" one of said rows, a set ofsheaves for supporting each belt, means for driving one belt through oneof its sheaves, and means for synchronizing the other belt with thedriven belt, the synchronizing means comprising a third belt travelingwith said carrier belts along a part of said paths, said third belthaving a row of sprocet holes for each of said rows of teeth, the holesof the row for the driven carrier being enlarg d in the diiihn havingrection opposite to the direction of belt travel and the holes of theother row being enlarged in the direction of belt travel,

7. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin with apparatus comprising two carriers movable independently of each other along parallel paths, each carrier having teethengageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, and means fordriving one carrier, a device for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the de- .5 vice having a row of sprocket holes foreach of said rows of teeth, the holes of the row for the driven carrierbeing enlarged in the direction opposite to the direction of film traveland the holes of the other row being enlarged in the direction of filmtravel.

8. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin with apparatus comprising two carriers movableindependently of each other along parallel paths, each carrier havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, and meansfor driving one carrier, means for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the synchronizing means comprising a belt travelingwith the carriers, said belt having a row of sprocket holes for each ofsaid rows of teeth, the holes of the row for the driven carrier beingenlarged in the direction opposite to the direction of belt travel andthe holes of the other row being enlarged in the direction of belttravel.

9. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carriers movableindependently of each other along parallel paths, each carrier havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, means fordriving one carrier, and means for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the synchronizing means having a row of sprocketholes for each of said rows of teeth, the dimension of the holeslengthwise of said paths being greater than the corresponding dimensionof the teeth and the holes of one row being oifset relatively to theholes of the other row lengthwise of said paths a distance equal to thediiierence between said dimensions, so that each hole of one row trailsthe corresponding hole of the other row by said distance, and thetrailing holes receiving the teeth of the driven carrier.

10. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carriers movableindependent-1y of each other along parallel paths, each carrier havingteeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of said rows, means fordriving one carrier, and means for synchronizing the other carrier withthe driven carrier, the synchronizing means comprising a belttravelingwith the carriers, said belt having a row of sprocket holes for each. ofsaid rows of teeth, the dimension of the holes lengthwise of said pathsbeing greater than the corresponding dimension of the teeth and theholes of one row being offset relatively to the holes of the other rowlengthwise of said paths a distance equal to the differ ence betweensaid dimensions, so that each hole of one row trails the correspondinghole of the other row by said distance, and the trailing holes receivingthe teeth of the driven carrier.

11. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, means for driving one belt, and means for synchronizing the otherbelt with the driven belt, the synchronizing means having a row ofsprocket holes for each of said rows of teeth, the dimension of theholes lengthwise of said paths being greater than the correspondingdimension of the teeth and the holes 01' one row being ofiset relativelyto the holes of the other row lengthwise of said paths a, distance equalto the difference between said dimensions, so that each hole of one rowtrails the corresponding hole of the other row by said distance, and thetrailing holes receiving the teeth of the driven carrier.

12. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, means for driving one belt, and means for synchronizing the otherbelt with the driven belt, the synchronizing means comprising a thirdbelt traveling with said carrier belts along a part of said paths, saidthird belt having a row of sprocket holes for each of said rows ofteeth, the dimension of the holes lengthwise of said paths being greaterthan the corresponding dimension of the teeth and the holes of one rowbeing ofiset relatively to the holes of the other row lengthwise of saidpaths a distance equal to the difference between said dimensions, sothat each hole of one row trails the corresponding hole of the other rowby said distance, and the trailing holes receiving the teeth of thedriven carrier.

13. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, a set of sheaves for supporting each belt,

- means for driving one belt through one of its sheaves, and means forsynchronizing the other belt with the driven belt, the synchronizingmeans having a row of sprocket holes for each of said rows of teeth, thedimension of the holes lengthwise of said paths being greater than thecorresponding dimension of the teeth and the holes of one row beingoffset relatively to the holes of the other row lengthwise of said pathsa distance equal to the difierence between said dimensions, so that eachhole of one row trails the corresponding hole of the other row by saiddistance, and the trailing holes receiving the teeth of the drivencarrier.

14. For handling cinematographic film having a row of sprocket holesalong each margin, apparatus comprising two carrier belts movableindependently of each other along adjacent paths in edgewise alignment,each belt having teeth engageable in the sprocket holes of one of saidrows, a set of sheaves for supporting each belt, means for driving onebelt through one of its sheaves, and means for synchronizing the otherbelt with the driven belt, the synchronizing means comprising a thirdbelt traveling with said carrier belts along a part of said paths, saidthird belt having a row of sprocket holes for each of said rows ofteeth, the dimension of the holes lengthwise of said paths being greaterthan the corresponding dimension of the teeth and the holes of one rowbeing ofiset relatively to the holes of the other row lengthwise of saidpaths a distance equal to the difference between said dimensions, sothat each hole of one row trails the corresponding hole of the other rowby said distance, and the trailing holes receiving the teeth of thedriven carrier.

EARL M. OLDS, JR.

No references cited.

